Age Discrimination in Tech: Meta Layoff Lawsuit Alleges Older Employees Were Targeted

Layoffs in the tech industry are often framed as business decisions tied to efficiency or restructuring. When older employees seem to be affected at higher rates than younger workers, however, those layoffs can raise legal concerns. A recent lawsuit against Menlo Park-based social media giant Meta Platforms is drawing attention for exactly that reason.

The lawsuit was filed in San Francisco County Superior Court by a former senior director who worked at the company for over a decade. He was laid off in February 2025 at age 54. According to the complaint, the employee had a track record of positive performance reviews and had even received a major stock award shortly before his termination. Despite that, he was allegedly labeled a “lowest performer” during a round of companywide layoffs, losing both his job and millions of dollars in unvested stock.

Older employees across Meta were allegedly laid off at much higher rates than younger workers, the lawsuit said. Employees over age 40 were allegedly 1.5 times more likely to be selected for layoffs than workers under 40. Employees age 50 and older were terminated at even higher rates, the lawsuit said, citing “data the company provided to terminated employees.”

The layoffs came soon after CEO Mark Zuckerberg expanded Meta’s existing internal performance rating system. It allowed managers to more aggressively classify workers as “lowest performers,” resulting in around 5 percent of the company’s workforce being laid off in early 2025.

In recent years, several major tech companies have been accused of pushing out older workers during hiring freezes, layoffs or internal restructuring efforts. Workers have filed lawsuits against companies such as Google and IBM for age discrimination in the industry.

In California, workers age 40 and over are protected from age discrimination in the workplace. The primary law covering these protections is the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). FEHA prohibits employers from discriminating against workers aged 40 and older based on age across hiring, firing, promotions, pay, layoffs and other terms of employment.

Importantly, California workers do not necessarily need direct proof of discrimination to bring an age discrimination claim. In some cases, courts may look at patterns in layoffs, internal communications, performance reviews or statistical data. Company policies and evaluation systems that disproportionately affect workers over age 40 may also be considered in a legal analysis.

For example, workers who consistently received strong performance reviews may understandably question sudden negative feedback that appears shortly before a termination. In some cases, courts may examine whether performance standards were applied consistently across employees of different age groups.

While layoffs may seem unfair at times, they are not inherently illegal. California employers generally have the right to reduce their workforce for legitimate business reasons. Where layoffs become an issue is when employers use them as a cover for discriminatory treatment. An employer can’t single out older employees for termination because they earn higher salaries or are seen as less adaptable than younger workers.

Older workers often bring experience, long-term leadership and institutional knowledge to workplaces. Unfortunately, not all employers value the important role they play in the workforce, instead opting to replace them with younger workers, who are stereotypically seen as more skilled with tech. When layoffs appear to disproportionately affect older employees, companies can face scrutiny over whether those decisions were truly performance-based or influenced by unlawful bias, as alleged in the Meta case.

California workers who believe they were targeted for layoffs because of their age may have legal options available. In many cases, employees can file discrimination complaints with the California Civil Rights Department before pursuing a lawsuit. Claims may involve lost wages and benefits, emotional distress damages and other compensation depending on the facts of the case.

At McCormack Law Firm, we represent workers facing discrimination, wrongful termination and other employment law violations. If you believe you were treated unfairly because of your age or targeted during a layoff, our San Francisco Bay Area employment lawyers can help you understand your rights and evaluate your legal options. Contact us today at (415) 925-5161 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. McCormack Law Firm is not involved in this case.